My first inclination is to not pick the Bucs to win against the Vikings. That’s because it’s hard to buy into a team that’s 1-5 and has suffered humiliating defeats to Atlanta and Baltimore.

But I’m going to go against my gut and pick the Bucs. That’s mainly because I think the Vikings are in worse shape than the Bucs. They’re starting rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and they rank last in passing offense. They have some issues on the offensive line that the Bucs might be able to exploit if they actually can generate a pass rush.

I’m not ready to buy into coach Lovie Smith’s talk that his team is improving because the last time we saw the Bucs they were getting shredded by Baltimore. But the Vikings aren’t that good and the Bucs are at home.

One other thing to keep in mind: Going back to his Chicago days, Smith is 6-3 following a bye week, including wins in six of his past seven games after a bye.

My prediction: Buccaneers 24, Vikings 13